NPO
EnPro Industries, Inc.
Industrial - Machinery
Market Cap$6.36B
5Y Perf.+567.5%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
NPO vs NDSN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NDSN
Nordson Corporation
Industrial - Machinery
Market Cap$15.83B
5Y Perf.+50.9%
NPO vs NDSN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NPO | NDSN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Machinery | Industrial - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $6.36B | $15.83B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.14B | $2.85B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $41M | $523M |
| Gross Margin | 42.6% | 55.2% |
| Operating Margin | 14.1% | 25.9% |
| Forward P/E | 33.7x | 24.9x |
| Total Debt | $655M | $2.09B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $115M | $108M |
NPO vs NDSN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NPO
NDSN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| EnPro Industries, I… (NPO) | 100 | 667.5 | +567.5% |
| Nordson Corporation (NDSN) | 100 | 150.9 | +50.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NPO vs NDSN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NDSN leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. EnPro Industries, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NPO
EnPro Industries, Inc.
The Growth Play
NPO is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 9.0%, EPS growth -44.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.3%
- 5.8% 10Y total return vs NDSN's 298.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.61, Low D/E 42.4%, current ratio 2.32x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
NDSN
Nordson Corporation
The Income Pick
NDSN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 37 yrs, beta 1.05, yield 1.1%
- Beta 1.05, yield 1.1%, current ratio 1.64x
- Lower P/E (24.9x vs 33.7x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NPO | 9.0% revenue growth vs NDSN's 3.8% |
| Value | NDSN | Lower P/E (24.9x vs 33.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | NDSN | 18.4% margin vs NPO's 3.5% |
| Stability / Safety | NDSN | Beta 1.05 vs NPO's 1.61 |
| Dividends | NDSN | 1.1% yield, 37-year raise streak, vs NPO's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NPO | +74.7% vs NDSN's +51.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NDSN | 10.2% ROA vs NPO's 1.6%, ROIC 10.5% vs 6.1% |
NPO vs NDSN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
NPO vs NDSN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNDSNLAGGINGNPO
NPOEnPro Industries, Inc.
1leads
NDSNNordson Corporation
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NPOMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NDSN5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NDSN4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NDSN5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NPO6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NDSN2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NDSN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NDSN is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.8B annually — 2.5x NPO's $1.1B. NDSN is the more profitable business, keeping 18.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NPO's 3.5%. On growth, NPO holds the edge at +14.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NPOEnPro Industries,… | NDSNNordson Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $2.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $264M | $851M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $41M | $523M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $158M | $646M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +42.6% | +55.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +25.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +18.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +22.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.3% | +8.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.3% | +44.2% |
NDSN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NDSN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 33.4x trailing earnings, NDSN trades at a 79% valuation discount to NPO's 157.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NDSN's 20.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NPO's 26.1x.
| Metric | NPOEnPro Industries,… | NDSNNordson Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.4B | $15.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.9B | $17.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 157.56x | 33.39x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 33.74x | 24.86x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.26x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.09x | 20.66x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.56x | 5.67x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.09x | 5.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 39.94x | 23.94x |
NDSN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NDSN leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NDSN delivers a 16.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $17 in annual profit, vs $3 for NPO. NPO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.42x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NDSN's 0.69x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NPO scores 7/9 vs NDSN's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NPOEnPro Industries,… | NDSNNordson Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.7% | +16.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.6% | +10.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.1% | +10.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.8% | +13.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.42x | 0.69x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $541M | $2.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $115M | $108M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $655M | $2.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.69x | 7.44x |
NDSN leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NPO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NPO five years ago would be worth $32,941 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,244 for NDSN. Over the past 12 months, NPO leads with a +74.7% total return vs NDSN's +51.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NPO at 47.2% vs NDSN's 10.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NPOEnPro Industries,… | NDSNNordson Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +37.4% | +18.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +74.7% | +51.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +218.7% | +34.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +229.4% | +42.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +575.2% | +298.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +47.2% | +10.4% |
NPO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NPO and NDSN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NDSN is the less volatile stock with a 1.05 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NPO's 1.61 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NPO currently trades 97.0% from its 52-week high vs NDSN's 93.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NPOEnPro Industries,… | NDSNNordson Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.61x | 1.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $310.13 | $305.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $167.56 | $188.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.0% | +93.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.3 | 59.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 242K | 306K |
Evenly matched — NPO and NDSN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NDSN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NPO as "Buy" and NDSN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 9.6% upside for NDSN (target: $312) vs -1.1% for NPO (target: $298). For income investors, NDSN offers the higher dividend yield at 1.11% vs NPO's 0.41%.
| Metric | NPOEnPro Industries,… | NDSNNordson Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $297.50 | $311.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 20 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 11 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.25 | $3.15 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.9% |
NDSN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NDSN leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). NPO leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallNordson Corporation (NDSN)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
NPO vs NDSN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NPO or NDSN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, EnPro Industries, Inc.
(NPO) is the stronger pick with 9. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 8% for Nordson Corporation (NDSN). Nordson Corporation (NDSN) offers the better valuation at 33. 4x trailing P/E (24. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO) a "Buy" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — NPO or NDSN?
On trailing P/E, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the cheapest at 33.
4x versus EnPro Industries, Inc. at 157. 6x. On forward P/E, Nordson Corporation is actually cheaper at 24. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NPO or NDSN?
Over the past 5 years, EnPro Industries, Inc.
(NPO) delivered a total return of +229. 4%, compared to +42. 4% for Nordson Corporation (NDSN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NPO returned +575. 2% versus NDSN's +298. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — NPO or NDSN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
05β versus EnPro Industries, Inc. 's 1. 61β — meaning NPO is approximately 53% more volatile than NDSN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 42% versus 69% for Nordson Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NPO or NDSN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), EnPro Industries, Inc.
(NPO) is pulling ahead at 9. 0% versus 3. 8% for Nordson Corporation (NDSN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nordson Corporation grew EPS 4. 9% year-over-year, compared to -44. 6% for EnPro Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NDSN leads at 2. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — NPO or NDSN?
Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the more profitable company, earning 17.
4% net margin versus 3. 5% for EnPro Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NDSN leads at 25. 5% versus 14. 1% for NPO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NDSN leads at 55. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is NPO or NDSN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) trades at 24.
9x forward P/E versus 33. 7x for EnPro Industries, Inc. — 8. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NDSN: 9. 6% to $311. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — NPO or NDSN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Nordson Corporation (NDSN) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 0. 4% for EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO).
09Is NPO or NDSN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
05), 1. 1% yield, +298. 2% 10Y return). EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO) carries a higher beta of 1. 61 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NDSN: +298. 2%, NPO: +575. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between NPO and NDSN?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
NDSN pays a dividend while NPO does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(NPO: 14.3% · NDSN: 8.8%)Net Margin>
%
(NPO: 3.5% · NDSN: 18.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
(NPO: 157.6x · NDSN: 33.4x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.